Step one—not calling to see if Kelsey was okay after she walked out on him yesterday.
Not that he had her phone number, but he did have Jessica’s and a pretty good feeling that she’d share Kelsey’s if he asked. But he’d kept busy by introducing Anthony to the fine art of baseball by watching a doubleheader and punching out an unending number of pushups.
“Can I ask one more favor?” he inquired.
“Have I done a single favor for you yet today?” Evie asked.
Cooper leaned against the counter. “You let me eat that world-class, awe-inspiring culinary confection.”
“Flattery wins every time.” The older woman turned to him. “What do you need?”
“Can I steal one of those roses?”
She smiled. “Got a special lady in mind for it?”
Oh, yeah. Very special.
Five minutes later, he walked across the patio again. The yellow rose in one hand, complete with a blue-checked bow thanks to Evie, and Anthony’s baby carrier in the other. He headed for the horse barn. It was after nine in the morning and most of the ranch’s cowboys were already well into their workday, and he knew Kelsey was, too. An hour ago he’d watched from his front porch as she and JR departed in one of the ranch trucks, a horse trailer attached.
“Okay, little guy, let’s see if we can get this done covertly,” Cooper said, slipping into the barn. He walked to Kelsey’s office, set the rose on the center of her desk and wrote her a quick note.
Hope you have a good day! C.
A different message than the one she’d left him.
He’d returned yesterday afternoon after getting Anthony settled again to find the living room empty and a scribbled note left behind, held in place by a bottle of baby lotion.
I have to go. I’m sorry. K.
In retrospect, he shouldn’t have been surprised to find her gone. He’d seen panic in her eyes when she’d bolted off his lap. At first, he’d thought he had done something to put that emotion there, but just like in the grocery store aisle, he’d also seen hunger and heat in those dark depths.
No, her fear had come from somewhere deep inside. Someone had hurt her—badly. And even though the fault wasn’t his, all he wanted was the chance to make it up to her.
Cooper shook off his thoughts and grabbed Anthony’s carrier. After a quick visit to Solo with fresh carrots and a promise of another ride soon, they left the barn and walked into the bright Texas sunshine. He snapped the baby’s carrier into the buckled frame in the backseat of his truck and headed for town.
Forty-five minutes later, he was on the road again, minus his son. Kirsten had called this morning to ask how he and Anthony were doing. Cooper had been surprised she managed to hold off six full days before checking up on him, so he’d asked if she was free to keep an eye on Anthony for a few hours while he ran some errands. Her breathless yes told him just how much she missed the boy.
Then a quick call to Lily at the Double Crown Ranch to see if today was a good time for a visit with his Uncle William, and his morning plans were set.
Cooper smiled, remembering Kirsten’s shock at the fully stocked diaper bag he’d left with her and his recommendation that peaches and applesauce went down much easier than peas when lunchtime came around. He just hoped Anthony wouldn’t end up being confused by the time spent with her.
Turning onto the highway that would take him out to the Double Crown Ranch, he found himself wondering what his uncle’s reaction would be to seeing him again. They weren’t that close, their paths only crossing when William and his family had visited Red Rock during the summers Cooper had been dumped at the Fortune family ranch by his mother. Cooper had always envied the togetherness and easy warmth he’d witnessed between William and his kids.
Arriving at the ranch, he parked his truck and walked through the inner courtyard of the main house. The large, antique wooden door opened before he made it all the way up the stone steps.
“Cooper!”
Lily greeted him with a warm hug. Still a beautiful woman in her mid-sixties, she looked at home in her jeans and casual shirt.
Cooper returned her hug before closing the door behind him. “Hi, Lily. How are things going?”
“It’s a good day,” she said with a smile, leading him through the massive living room and into the kitchen. “But before we see William, I wanted to give you this.”
She picked up a large, padded envelope from the countertop and handed it to him. Cooper looked at his name written in simple block lettering addressed to the Double Crown Ranch. “Where did this come from?”
“It was delivered this morning.”
He read the return address, his heart giving a quick lurch as he recognized it as the bar where Lulu worked in Minnesota.
What the hell?
“Do you want to take a few minutes to see what’s inside?” Lily asked. “The study is available if you’d like some privacy.”
As much as he hated to do it, Cooper laid the package down. “No, thanks. I’ll open it later.”
“I know you’re still feeling your way when it comes to being a father, but I do hope you’ll bring Anthony out to the ranch for a visit soon.” Lily opened the refrigerator and took out a glass pitcher. “We are so proud to welcome another Fortune into the family.”
A flicker of pride filled Cooper’s chest. “Thanks, Lily.”
“You know, it’s hard to believe it was because of your medallions that you all were able to figure out that sweet baby boy was a Fortune.” Always the hostess, she spoke while putting together a tray of two empty glasses and a plate of cookies. “Thank goodness whoever had the baby left that medallion with him.”
Cooper nodded, his fingers rubbing against his jeans where the coin now rested in his pocket. A Christmas gift from his mother decades ago, the medallion was a cheap knockoff. As artificial as the story Cindy had told him and his siblings about a buried treasure found outside of Red Rock by a Fortune ancestor. But now, he considered it his lucky charm and he carried it with him always.
Lily lifted the tray, waving off Cooper’s attempt to carry it for her and headed for the other side of the kitchen. “William is enjoying the sunshine in the sitting area near the courtyard.”
Cooper followed her, then hesitated when he saw his uncle in a chair near the double glass doors, staring out at the gardens. His brother and cousin had warned him that William had changed physically as well as emotionally during his ordeal, but Cooper was still surprised to see how the man, who’d always been tall, both in stature and in his larger-than-life presence, looked so still and detached in the oversize leather chair.
“William, darling, you have a visitor.” Lily spoke to her fiancé. “Your nephew, Cooper, is here.”
His uncle turned to look at him, no recognition in his eyes. “Hello.”
“Hey, Uncle.”
Silence filled the room for a moment before Lily set the tray on a rustic wood-and-wrought-iron coffee table. “I brought you a fresh pot of iced tea and some cookies.”
“I’d rather have a beer,” William said.
“No alcohol, dear. Doctor’s orders. Besides, you have a physical therapy appointment this afternoon.”
Cooper read frustration on his uncle’s face as he sat on the leather couch opposite him, his gaze catching on the photo albums scattered across the end of the coffee table.
“Hang the doctors,” William grumbled. “One beer isn’t going to kill me.”
“But I might if you continue to be a bear,” Lily chided in a gentle tone as she leaned over and placed a kiss on William’s silver-toned hair. “So, please behave yourself.”
His uncle pulled away from Lily’s touch, but she just gave his shoulder a squeeze before stepping back.
“I’ve got work to do in the other room,” she said. “I’ll leave you two to visit.”
Cooper wanted to call out for her to stay, but instead he busied himself by pouring a glass of tea. He looked up to offer to do the same for his
uncle in time to catch the older man’s gaze as it followed Lily from the room.
“She’s a good woman,” he said, his voice low. “She takes care of me.”
The words were said without any feelings or emotion behind them. Cooper had been told about his uncle’s state of mind, but seeing him in person was unsettling. How was he supposed to respond to something like that? He’d never thought to ask Lily if there were any—geez, guidelines for lack of a better word—when it came to talking to William.
Cooper filled the second glass and held it out to his uncle, deciding to go with his gut, preferring honesty to anything else. “Yes, she loves you very much.”
He took the glass. “So everyone keeps telling me. And you’re Cooper Fortune, one of my sister Cindy’s kids.”
“Yes, one of the more unfortunate Fortunes.”
“Don’t say that.” William’s voice held a steely strength that wasn’t there moments before as he sat up a little straighter in his chair. “I may not remember a damn thing about my life, but from what I’ve been told and seen in those photo albums, the Fortunes are a strong, proud family. All of them.”
“All of us, you mean?”
The man slumped back against the cushion, the brief show of sentiment gone. “Is that why you’re here? To give me another history lesson?”
Cooper took a long draw on his glass of tea before he spoke. He guessed it must be tiring being told stories of places, events and people that you couldn’t remember. “I just wanted to stop by and say welcome home.”
“You live in Red Rock?”
“I just moved here a few weeks ago. Before that I lived anywhere my horse and I ended up.”
“A wandering cowboy, huh?” William’s eyes trailed over him from his head to his boots. “You’ve got the look of a nomad.”
Was that good or bad? “Not anymore. I’m putting down roots now.”
Surprise filled Cooper at how easily he said those words. He’d never wanted to stay in one place before, the call of the open road had always been too strong to resist. But things were going good in Red Rock. Taking care of Anthony, being close to Ross and Frannie again, getting to know his cousins…
And Kelsey.
“You got someone special holding you to this place?” William rose from his chair to stand at the glass doors, looking outside.
Cooper stood, too, noticing the unsteadiness of the older man. “A couple of someones.”
William nodded, but didn’t say anything for a long moment until he finished off his drink. “How about some fresh air?”
He didn’t know what the rules were, but he figured if the man wanted to go outside, he should be able to. Cooper followed his uncle onto the patio. “Sounds good to me.”
“So, tell me about your adventures,” William said. “Where have you been over the years?”
Cooper spoke as they walked through the gardens, circled back to the patio and sat at an outdoor table shaded by a large canvas umbrella. His uncle didn’t ask many questions, but seemed interested in Cooper’s stories and Cooper was surprised to check his watch and see ninety minutes had gone by.
“Well, I hate to end this visit, but I need to be heading out.” Cooper rose from his chair, digging into his pocket for his keys. “It was good to see you, Uncle William.”
“It was nice to meet—to see you again, too, Cooper.”
A clanging noise had Cooper glancing at the table. The medallion he’d talked to Lily about had come out of his pocket when he’d pulled out his keys. He reached for it, but his uncle beat him to it.
“What was that—?” The man’s fingers tightened on the coin. “Where did you get this?”
Surprised at the hard tone in his uncle’s voice, Cooper held back from reaching for the medallion. “I’ve had it for years. It was a gift from my mother.”
Remaining silent, he watched as his uncle studied the coin intently, turning it over and over in his hand. When Lily came through the door, he motioned to her to remain quiet, gesturing toward William. A look of concern came over her features as she joined him.
“This is mine.” William’s tone held an air of certainty. “This belongs to me.”
A quick glance at Lily told Cooper she was as taken aback as him by his uncle’s claim. “Actually, I got that when I was a kid for Christmas one year. It’s just a worthless fake, but my brothers and sister each got one. We’ve all managed to hold onto them over the years, so I guess they mean something after all.”
William shook his head. “No, this is mine.”
“Darling, Cooper just told you that belongs to—”
Cooper laid a hand on her arm, stopping her. He didn’t have any idea what was going on, but his uncle’s insistence was the first real emotion he’d witnessed from the man since he arrived. “That’s okay. If he wants to keep it, he can.”
Gratitude crossed Lily’s features. “Thank you.”
“I’ve got to be heading out.”
“I’ll walk you to the door.” Lily turned to William. “Cooper’s leaving now and I’m going to show him out. I’ll be right back.”
His uncle nodded, his fingers closing into a fist around the coin as he stared off into the distance. They left him and walked back inside. Lily handed Cooper his envelope as they headed for the front door.
He’d forgotten about the package, but now Cooper was filled with a sudden need to see what was inside. Leaning down, he gave Lily a kiss on the cheek.
“Thank you so much for coming,” she said. “I don’t know what’s gotten into William over that medallion of yours, but it means so much to me that you are letting him hold onto it. It’s the first thing that’s triggered such a powerful show of emotion in him since he’s been back. I’m taking that as a good sign.”
Lily opened the door for him. “And I’ll make sure nothing happens to it.”
He believed her, surprised at how important the coin had become to him in such a short amount of time. “Thanks.”
Cooper headed back to his truck. Once inside, he started it up and headed off the ranch, but pulled over on the side of the road before he hit the highway. Ripping open the package, he turned it upside down. Out fell a letter, a couple of envelopes and a small jewelry box.
Unfolding the letter, Cooper read the words written by the owner of the bar where Lulu had worked. He stated the enclosed paperwork had been left behind in her employee folder when she quit her job last December. It had been misfiled, which is why it was found only recently.
The owner had known she’d left town, as she’d sold the contents of the jewelry box to him to have enough cash for the trip. Since learning of her death, her former boss felt it only right that the items went to Lulu’s son. The only address left behind had been under Cooper’s name in Red Rock, Texas, so the man hoped Cooper could make sure the baby got these things.
Stunned, Cooper looked at the envelopes and found one sealed with the words “my son” written across the front. The other one was open, and he pulled out an official document with “Birth Certificate” written in bold font across the top.
Blood pounded at his temples as he quickly scanned the document, searching for his name. There it was, right where it should be, listing him as the baby’s father. Elation filled him as he read the details surrounding his son’s birth. The date, time and his weight and size the moment he came into this world.
He should’ve been there.
He should’ve been there to help Lulu through the labor, to cut the umbilical cord, to hold his son in his hands as he took his first breaths.
The stinging in his eyes made it hard to read. He blinked away the pain as the words that made up Anthony’s full name came into focus.
His real name.
“What happened to you? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Cooper ignored his brother, Ross, as he slid into the booth at Red, still listening to the woman on the other end of the phone. He’d called Kirsten on his way to the restaurant, asked if she minded k
eeping Anthony for a bit longer, which of course she didn’t.
“Jeremy came home for lunch and we just finished eating. I was about to give Anthony a bottle and put him down for a nap. Is that all right?”
“That’s fine and thanks,” Cooper replied. “I’m at Red with my brother—” he paused when his sister, Frannie, slid into the booth next to Ross “—and my sister. I should be by in about an hour to get him.”
“Take your time. I’ve loved being with him again.”
Cooper ended the call as a waiter came by, dropping off menus and taking their drink order. He waited until they were alone before he laid the envelope from Minnesota on the table.
“I found out Anthony’s real name. William Antonio Carlton Fortune.”
That statement got both Ross and Frannie’s attention.
Cooper emptied the padded envelope on the table and explained about his visit with Lily and William, the package being delivered there and what he found when he opened it.
“Wow, that’s unbelievable,” Ross said as he examined the baby’s birth certificate. “At least you’re officially listed as the kid’s father and he has the Fortune name. I’m guessing you aren’t planning to start calling him William?”
The waiter appeared again with their drinks and they quickly ordered their meals. Cooper waited until they were alone again before he spoke.
“No, Anthony knows his name. I have no idea why Lulu called him that instead of Will or William or Billy, but I’m guessing the Antonio in his name is because I once told her San Antonio is my birth place.”
Frannie picked up the sealed envelope. “I’m guessing you aren’t planning to open this?”
Cooper took a moment, downing a large swallow from his glass of ice water. Curiosity and the still-unknown conditions surrounding Lulu and Anthony’s arrival in Red Rock had him wanting to see what was inside, but his sense of honor to the envelope being sealed held him off.
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